A great speakeasy in San Jose that doesn't require a password!

Aug 20, 2010

by maromatic

Rating:

+5

It might be really easy to miss this bar... considering there isn't a sign. Only a single barrel above the door.

After walking down the flight of stairs, you'll notice this basement speakeasy is DARK. I like my bars dark like the next person, but this is DARKER than I am normally accustomed to. [Even in the ladies room, which is a little awkward... which is the ONE place you'd think there would be a little bit more lighting...] The bar is near the entrance with a row of bartenders dressed like Newsies. Their menu features drinks with recipes from that era. A bartender will ask you what you're personal drinking preference is, asking a few question before they suggest which specialty cocktail you would probably like. I ordered a spearmint gimlet. Cash, our bartender, chatted us up a bit, and put on a little show for us. Not as fantastic as Tom Cruise in Cocktail, but not too shabby. Cash says they take their time preparing your cocktail... it takes time to crush all those ingredients in to make the perfect cocktail. But I prefer this, this isn't the kind of place where you want to have your drink rushed and just dumped into a cup. Their specialty cocktails run around $10. The bartenders are pretty cool.

The ambiance of the place is amazing. Inside there are a bunch of comfy couches and booths...and yes, it is DARK. There is a gaming table with chips and a couple decks of cards. While we were playing cards and Cash came over and brought ... LINEN coasters for our drinks. They also sell cigars.

All in all it was a great bar, a great bar to start and it's the spot I want to go to whenever I am in San Jose.

As library paraprofessional for my adult working life, I have worked in academic libraries, public libraries, in the dungeons of cataloging departments, on the front lines of circ ... and occasionally … more